Automobile-signal.



R. Lx WERNTZ.

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL,

`APPLICATION man SEPT. 5. 1917.

Patentad Aug. 6, 1918.

ATTORNEY R. Ll WERNTZ.

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5. 1917.

Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

mim@ u.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTORN EY @y QP., Bv

rows can be seen. 'l hey have the same movement after dark when they are not visible, and at this time the driver will close the switch l2 so that the lamp signals come into action by reason of the fact that the circuit closers are actuated by the armatures. v

The numbers 32 and 33 designate electromagnets disposed in alinement with each other and standing respectively near the left and right hand sides of the casing, and l will hereinafter refer to them as the left and the right magnets; and between them stands a third electromagnet 3l hereinafter called the intermediate magnet. The left hand lever 26 moves between and carries an armature 2b for the left magnet 32 and the .intermediate magnet 31,. whereas the right hand lever carries an arnniture t'or the right magnet 33 and the other end of the inter-- mediate magnet 3l. l)ivoted at 34 within the casing is a latch 'for each lever, the same having a hook 36 at its vtree end normally raised by a weight 37 so as to come automatically into engagement with a pin 3S on the lever when the latter is swung inward as seen at the right' of Fig. l, but as seen in Fig. 2, the pendant arm 39 which carriesthe weight standsI adjacent to the core of the magnet so that when the latter is energized 'the latch is tripped to disengage its hook from the pin and then the lever is swung` toward the magnet. The function of the latch is to hold the lever and therefore the arrow against swinging under the vibration oi the' car as it travels over the roadway. Moreover, the angular position of the arrow and its weighted arm with respect'to its pivot gives the same a constant tendency to swing to the position dotted -in lFig. l, and this tendency is resisted by the latch.' Therefore when the latter is tripped, as just described, the lever swings part way toward the outer magnet under the inline nce of the weight and the armature comes within its magnetic field as has been suggested. On the other hand, 'when an arrow drops from its horizontal position as seen at the left of' Fig. l, its 'weight creates the same tendency of the lever to swing toward the intermediate magnet and the larmature comes into the magnetic field thereof. The latches are purposely disposed to hold the arrows in pendant position as when the driver is proceeding straight ahead, and the circuit closers next to be described are purposely arranged so that they supply no current to the lamps 2 and 3 at this time, but the lamp 4 is lighted and the signal is set at clear, meaning straight ahead.

The left circuit closer is a spring tongue 45 supported at its lower end on an insulated .bloclr 44 vand connected with the branch wire 15, its upper end lying ncrmally in contact with a pin 47 which is conner/arie nected with the wire 17. The right circuit closer is a similar tongue 4G connected with. the branch wire '16 and resting normally against a pin 48 connected with. the right wire 18. a tongue 4Q mounted on the insulated block 44 which carries the lett circuit closer and connected at its lower end with the wire -19 to the lower lamp 4, and this 'tongue is never in contact with the tongue 45 by reason oit the interposed insulation shown at 43 in t Fig. 4, although the tongue 49 is moved when the tongue 45 is moved. rlhe tongues 45 and 46 are bent inward by projections on the levers 26, and when the latter swing inward the circuit closers are opened. lrins 40 and 4l are disposed between the circuit closers and connected by a wire 20, and when both circuit closerl tongues 46 are swung inward (or in other words, when both ar rows stand pendant). the circuit to the lamp 4 is completed along the wire 19, tongue 49, wire 20, tongue46, and branch 16, as will be clearly understood: therefore this lamp burns only when both lamps 2 and 3 are extinguished.

The mechanical details thus far described are amply illustrated in the drawings, but the means for energizing the electromagnets are shown only in diagram in Fig. 4. ln the following description thereof l refer to the circuit closers for the magnet circuit as push buttons, and it" the same are actually employed they will doubtless be assembled in a plate convenient to the operators posin tion and the buttons labeled or lettered in some way. However, it is quite possible to adopt some of the well-known systems new.`

in use for employing circuit elosers in connection with the right and lett hand 'nagnets which are actuated by the turning o the steering wheel, so that the signals will be set automatically in a manner well understood and not necessary to amplify. From a suitable source et electricity such as a battery 50 a wire 51 leads to one end of such magnet, and from the other side of the battery a wire 52leads to .one side of a series of circuit closeiis or buttons herein lettered R, N, L and Sa These letters may be the initials of words meaning right, neither, left, and stop, and the circuit @losers may be switches, push buttons, or any appropriate devices. From the other side of the button R a wire 53 leads to the other lWeird et' the right magnet 33, the otherside" of the button ll is connected a wire 54 with the intermediate magnctl and the other side ot the button L is connected by a wire 55 with the lett magnet-32- A, Wire 5o leads from a contact at the rother sident the button S to a point where it con-- nects with the wire and another wire leads from a te f ,somt 57 The intermediate circuit closer is ifa Levante Where it connects with the wire 55, and through these contacts and wiresthe button S is branched to both the right and left hand magnets.

1With this construction of parts, when the driver presses the button E, the right magnet 33 1s energized, the right latch 55 isy tive magnet and has dropped, will he drawn down to a vertical position because the armature or lever will be attracted by this intermediate magnet 3l, and when ythe lever reaches a verticalposition the' latch engages the pin in a manner above described. Thereafter both arrows are pendant and the sig-` nal is quite clean and nopres'suije is needed on any button to cause it to remain so. This description covers whatv takes place inen chancally, but it is clear also that the projections s2 open said circuit closers whenever the levers swing inward. Therefore, when at night the operator closes the switch 3.2 and energizes the lamp circuit, the move nient of the levers will, through their projections 42, open and close the circuit closers 45, i9 and 46 in a manner above described, and the result will be that the lain-ps new become visible when lighted whereas the arrows may be no longer seen. l#Vith the parts standing in the position shown in the drawings, the left light would be illuminated red and the uppermost. white light burns at all times, if both arrows-were raised both red lamps 2 and 3 would be illuminated, and if both arrows were dropped 'there would be shown a red light l below a white light 5. Therefore the relative position and colors of the lights constitute the signal.

lll/'hat l claim. is:

1. ln, a signal of the lclass described, the combination with tln*eealined and spaced elecvtroniagnets, two armature levers pivotally mounted for mov .lent inthe respective spaces between the magnets, and ni'eans for energizing' the latter selectively; of two sig nals pivote-ily supported 'for swinging move nient, and linlrs connecting the free ends of said levers with the respective signe ln a signal of the class described, combination with three alined and spaced ir gilets, two armature levers pivotl `combination with three' alined and spaced felectroinagnets, two armature levers pivot nals, each mounted near one endy on a pivot end having an arm projecting laterally from such end and weighted whereby the tiendency is for the signal to stand normally` oblique, and a link connecting said armv with the free end of one of the levers,;substan ti ally as and for the purpose described.

3. ln a signal of the class described, the

ally mounted for movement in the respective spaces between the magnets, 'and .means for energizing the latter selectively of two pivoted signals, a weight on each causing it to stand normally oblique, connections between the signal and the/'free end of one of said leversfj la pin on the latter,and a pivoted latch for engaging the pin when the lever stands in one extreme position, the latch having a gravity arm standing in the magnetic ieldfci' one magnet, Iigor the purpose set fort 4.5111 a signal of the type described, the combination with alined and spaced electromagnets, a lever swinging between their! and serving as the armature of either, and means for selectively energizing the magnets; oi the signal proper, connections betr. .n it

and the free end of the lever, a catch on the latter, and an angular latch pivotally sup ported at its angle and having a hook on one arno for engaging said catch when the lever is in one extreme position and its other arni hanging in the magnetic field oione oi' said magnets, for the purpose set forth.

5. ln an automobile signal of the type de scribed, the combination with a casing'. lett, right, and intermediatel mounted therein and spaced from each other, means for energizing them selectively,l

and two levers whelreoiI each is pivoted-at its lower end within the casing for swinging clectromagnets movement between the intermediate magnet and one of. the 'other magnets; o two arrowshaped signals pivoted near their rear ends within the casing above the magnets and adaptedto swing to horizontal or 'vertical positie, l connections between each arrow and the es `end oidn. lever whereby the .latter moves from within the magnetic field of one magnet into that oi the other as the arrow moves troni one of its extreme positions to the otheriintljtravels across the neutrol space between said/:fields v the inertia olif parts, latch ineclianisin for holding the lever adjacent the intermediate magnet, and ans for tripping/said latch when xthe other .moet is energized.

L `.el of the class described, the 'f ciwith a member pivoted to swing cntal to vertical positions and stand normally between such e L lever pivot-ed at one its other end with Said member and swung therewith, an ai'- inature oir-(the lever, spaced electromugnets between Wliicli the lever swings, und means for energizing them selectively; of a. Signal, e source ofielectrie energy, a circuit including the source and the signal and setting the latter When it is closed, e normally closed circ-uit closer Within Said circuitI` and means on the lever for opening said closer when the lever is moved to one. extreme position.

7'. ln n signal ot the eless described, the

I combination with a member pivoted to Swing from horizontal to vertical positions and Weighted to Staind normally between Such extremes of movement, L pivoted lever conl5 nected with said member ind swung therewith7 :in armature on the lever, spaced electromagnets between which the lever swings, and means for energizing them selectively; of d` signal lamp, :i circuit closer` i1 circuit 20 including the lamp and circuit closer :ind e source of energy, und a. pin on said lever lopening* the circuit closer when the lever swings t0 one eXtreme of its movement.

In testimony whereof I uiix my signature. 25

ROBERT L; VERNTZ. 

